OUR VIEW: Don’t abandon Rome idea

Rome Mayor Joe Fusco has the right idea when it comes to government consolidation. But the city needs to get more of the puzzle pieces in place before such a project should move ahead.

Uticaod

Writer

Posted Aug. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 3:09 PM

Posted Aug. 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 3:09 PM

Rome Mayor Joe Fusco has the right idea when it comes to government consolidation. But the city needs to get more of the puzzle pieces in place before such a project should move ahead.

For the second time this year, the city council failed last month to approve the mayor’s plan to take ownership of the former New York Army National Guard Armory from the state Office of General Services to bring five city departments under one roof. The plan would be contingent on the city receiving about $500,000 in state grant funding to pay for the move.

But the council is skittish — and rightfully so. Even though Fusco’s idea is a good one — it makes sense for city operations to be under one roof — there needs to be more public discussion of the plan, outlining a cost comparison between consolidating and keeping things as they are.

For instance, one might expect that consolidating five departments into one building would avoid duplication of things such as maintenance, utility costs and other common expenses, but those numbers need to be discussed. Also, as the council’s Finance Committee Chairman Frank Anderson, R-5, says, the mayor needs to show a financial plan for marketing the buildings that would be left vacant by the move.

Fusco shouldn’t abandon this idea. Instead, he should outline anticipated savings, offer sound suggestions for disposing of the vacant properties and show the public how the consolidation would save them money. Such a plan would be tough for the council to deny.